Frank Shannon still with Sooners, taking most first-team reps

The strange case that is the University of Oklahoma vs. Frank Shannon continues Tuesday, with yet another development that adds an extra layer or two to the situation.

Following practice earlier today, Jordan Evans, who’s expected to take over at linebacker if Shannon’s season-long suspension is upheld, was asked if the Sooners’ leading tackler last season was getting any reps with the first-team defense. Evans’ answer will surprise some who thought Shannon was no longer in the mix at OU.

“He’s been taking all of them. But we’re doing a whole bunch of things, the player said, before clarifying a bit. “I shouldn’t say all of them. But he’s taking a lot of reps. … So am I. They are really rotating in everybody some they can get an amount of reps and see where you are at.”

For his part, Bob Stoops is letting others handle the off-field situation involving the defensive leader.

“It’s like anything; we coach the players that are there,” the head coach said. “It’s pretty much how it goes. All we can control are the players that are on the field, and that’s all we ever can control. That’s all we do: coach the players that are there.

“We get guys hurt week in and week out who aren’t available, next guy up’s gonna come in and do the job. It’s just how it goes.”

Shannon is fighting the suspension through the court system, with the player already getting a victory in district court The Cleveland County district court judge ruled that Shannon is allowed to remain enrolled as a student and participate in OU football activities. OU has appealed the decision to the state’s supreme court.

Until then, Shannon will be permitted to practice with the Sooners and, if the case bleeds into the regular season, play in games.

I don’t understand why Boren is trying to take the case to the Oklahoma Supreme Court to uphold the suspension before Shannon can get an appeal. If the DA doesn’t file charges then I believe any player in the circumstance should play. The question here is what student code violation did Shannon break? And does it warrant a one year suspension from the school?